Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has declined to take responsibility for Barcelona star Gavi‘s season-ending injury sustained during the national team's Euro 2024 qualifying game against Georgia, reported by GOAL. Gavi suffered a severe injury, rupturing the ACL in his right knee, ruling him out for at least nine months.

De La Fuente clarified that Barcelona did not communicate any restrictions on Gavi's playing time in the November 19 game. He emphasized that a player's health is a top priority, asserting that he had initially planned to substitute Gavi at halftime.

During an appearance on the El Larguero podcast on La Ser, De La Fuente stated, “Barca did not ask that Gavi not play the last game with Spain. Just as I don't get involved in clubs, I don't like it when they do it. We had the idea that the national team, just as when they leave, they must focus on their clubs. We had the idea that he would play only 45 minutes in the second game.”

He explained that Gavi, known for his enthusiasm, wanted to participate fully in training even after a previous game. Despite the unfortunate injury, Barcelona manager Xavi had conveyed to De La Fuente that he had no issues with the Spain boss.

De La Fuente defended the decision to let Gavi continue playing, stating that if there had been an obvious injury or player warning, he would have been taken off immediately. The manager also addressed concerns about fatigue, emphasizing that footballers naturally desire consistent playtime.

Gavi's injury is a significant setback for Barcelona, with the young talent expected to miss the rest of the current season and possibly Euro 2024. Despite the incident, support has poured in for Gavi, including a note of encouragement from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.